HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NOON BRIEFING BY FARHAN HAQ,
DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
MONDAY, 17 MARCH 2025
SECRETARY-GENERAL/GENEVA
The Secretary-General is in Geneva today. The informal meeting on Cyprus that he is convening with the two Cypriot leaders and the Guarantor Powers of Greece, Türkiye and the United Kingdom is scheduled to begin shortly.
The meeting is taking place today and tomorrow and is being held in the context of the Secretary-General’s good offices efforts on the Cyprus issue, as agreed with the two leaders on 15 October 2024.
The informal meeting will provide an opportunity for a meaningful discussion on the way forward on the Cyprus issue.
Earlier today, the Secretary-General visited the construction site of the “Portail des Nations”, a new visitors centre currently under construction at the UN campus in Geneva. Built through a private donation from the Fondation Portail des Nations, the new facility will provide visitors with an interactive experience to learn about our work, and, as you can imagine, it will enable our colleagues in Geneva to better welcome visitors.
BANGLADESH
The Secretary-General wrapped up his visit to Bangladesh on Saturday by talking to the press and saying that, as Bangladesh undergoes a significant transition under the leadership of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, he recognizes the people’s hopes for a future of greater democracy, justice, and prosperity. He said that the UN stands ready to assist in fostering peace, national dialogue, trust and healing.
The Secretary-General warned that with the announced cuts in financial assistance, we are facing the dramatic risk of having only 40 per cent in 2025 of the resources available for humanitarian aid in 2024. This would have terrible consequences, starting with the drastic reduction of food rations.
That would be an unmitigated disaster, he said. People would suffer and people would die. More funding is absolutely essential to guarantee the minimum support to the Rohingya population in Bangladesh.
YEMEN
The UN has expressed its concern on Sunday at the launching of multiple strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen by the United States in recent days. According to the Houthis, the airstrikes resulted in 53 deaths and 101 injuries, reported from Sana’a City, Sa’ada and Al Baydah governorates, including reports of civilian casualties, and led to disruptions in the power supply in nearby localities.
The UN is also concerned about the continued threats by the Houthis to resume their attacks targeting merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, as well as about their reported attacks against military vessels in the area.
The UN calls for utmost restraint and a cessation of all military activities. Any additional escalation could exacerbate regional tensions, fuel cycles of retaliation that may further destabilize Yemen and the region and pose grave risks to the already dire humanitarian situation in the country.
The UN emphasizes that international law, including international humanitarian law as applicable, must be respected by all parties at all times.
The UN underscores that UN Security Council resolution 2768 (2025) related to Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial vessels, must be fully respected.
YEMEN - HUMANITARIAN
Over the last couple of days, the UN Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, has been in close contact with Yemeni, regional and international stakeholders. He has called for utmost restraint and adherence to international humanitarian law, and he has pushed for a refocus on diplomacy to avoid uncontrollable destabilization in Yemen and in the region. Further contacts are held by his office on numerous levels.
The Envoy further called for support from the international community so that the UN-led mediation efforts can deliver results despite the complexity of the regional dimension of this situation, including the situation in the Red Sea.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that critical aid stocks are dwindling in Gaza, after more than two weeks with no supplies coming into the Strip.
The World Food Programme reports that the closure of the crossings has led to a surge in prices. This month, the cost of cooking gas soared by up to 200 per cent compared to February and is now only available on the black market.
The UN’s partners also report a lack of cash. Shop owners are unable to restock or pay their suppliers. This is particularly acute in North Gaza and Khan Younis.
Despite the suspension of cargo entering Gaza, the UN and its partners continue to provide life-saving services for as many vulnerable people as possible.
Over the past two weeks, the UN’s partners have screened more than 3,000 children for malnutrition across Gaza. Only a small number of cases of acute malnutrition have been identified, but partners warn that the situation could worsen if the halt on aid into Gaza continues.
UNICEF says large quantities of critical supplies are stalled just a few dozen kilometers outside the Strip, including 20 ventilators for neonatal intensive care units and more than 180,000 doses of essential childhood routine vaccines, enough to fully vaccinate and protect 60,000 children under the age of 2. In a statement yesterday, UNICEF stressed that these life-saving health supplies must be allowed to enter and warned that any further delay risks reversing the gains made for children during the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, the UN Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, says more than 270,000 children have enrolled in the agency’s education programme in Gaza – learning math, science, Arabic and English. Thanks to hundreds of school counsellors and assistant counsellors, children are also receiving psychological first aid and benefiting from recreational activities.
Turning to the situation in the West Bank, OCHA reports that the operation by Israeli forces in northern areas continues to drive displacement.
Over the past few days, Israeli forces raided Tulkarm. Hundreds of families, including women, children and older people, were displaced from Tulkarm and Nur Shams refugee camps. Partners report that most residents of the Nur Shams refugee camp have left.
Meanwhile, the UN’s humanitarian partners in the northern West Bank are providing psychological assistance to children to address the impact of the operation and are training adults on how to support them.
SYRIA/BRUSSELS CONFERENCE
In a message to the 9th annual Brussels Conference on Syria, the Secretary-General said that after 14 years of war, Syria’s economy has lost out on an estimated $800 billion in GDP. He added that millions of Syrians — inside and outside the country — continue to need massive levels of support for food, shelter, basic services and livelihoods.
The Secretary-General called on the international community to move with urgency to invest in Syria’s future, by expanding humanitarian support and reconsidering any cuts to funding at this critical time, and by investing in Syria’s recovery, including addressing sanctions and other restrictions.
LEBANON/SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning, the Security Council held closed consultations on the 1701 report. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed the Council members.
UKRAINE
Turning to Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that today and over the weekend attacks have caused dozens of civilian casualties, including among children. Homes, schools and energy facilities have also sustained damaged, impacting electricity supplies. This is according to authorities. The strikes primarily affected Dnipro, Donetsk, and Kharkiv regions in the east and Odesa and Kherson regions in the south. Aid workers responded swiftly and provided shelter materials, emergency repair kits and hygiene supplies, as well as psychosocial support.
According to the UN’s partners and authorities, continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy sector over the past three years—including missile strikes, cyberattacks and the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant—have severely impacted the generation, transmission and distribution of power in Ukraine. In 2024 alone, there were 13 large-scale strikes which significantly impacted Ukraine’s power generation capacity.
SUDAN
Turning to Sudan, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warns that the ongoing siege on Zamzam camp, outside the city of El Fasher, is deepening the suffering of hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians who are struggling to survive after months of famine.
The crisis at the camp has worsened during Ramadan, with food shortages growing even more severe. Prices of basic goods have skyrocketed, making essential items unaffordable for most families. The UN’s partners on the ground report signs of growing hunger.
Armed attacks continue along the route between Zamzam and El Fasher, with multiple casualties and injuries reported. A partner at Zamzam warns that the presence of improvised explosive devices inside the camp are also an increasing concern.
Despite severe access challenges, humanitarian teams are providing food, water and urgent medical care, but needs are far outpacing available resources. The situation has become even more critical due to funding cuts and the withdrawal of most aid organizations assisting in the area due to insecurity. And as you will recall, the World Food Programme and its partners were forced to suspend operations in Zamzam last month.
OCHA is also concerned that conditions are also deteriorating in parts of Khartoum State. Local volunteer aid workers report severe malnutrition and critical shortages of medicines in the district of Sharque Al Nil. They say malnutrition is widespread among children and pregnant women, particularly in the neighbourhood of East Al Haj Yousif, where conditions are especially dire. Lack of food is a major problem due to the closure of most community kitchens.
There are also very serious concerns over reports of grave human rights violations in Khartoum as fighting rages and lines of control shift rapidly. Two weeks ago, front-line aid workers recorded more than 800 cases of severe child malnutrition, with numbers continuing to rise.
Meanwhile, cases of anemia, hepatitis, night blindness and malaria are increasing due to the critical shortage of medicines in the few remaining functional health facilities.
OCHA stresses that the scale of suffering in Sudan is staggering, and without swift intervention, the consequences will be devastating for millions. The UN calls once again for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Sudan and unhindered humanitarian access to deliver life-saving aid.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), Elizabeth Spehar, is leading a delegation to the Central African Republic this week, from 16 to 21 March, hosted by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). The delegation will include representatives from Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Norway, the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) Advisory Group and the Peacebuilding Commission. The visit will focus on UN-supported peacebuilding efforts in the Central African Republic.
Ms. Spehar and the delegation will meet with President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, the Prime Minister and other senior CAR officials. The delegation will also meet with Valentine Rugwabiza, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of MINUSCA, as well as civil society partners. Discussions will focus on inclusive peacebuilding strategies, strengthening national ownership of peace efforts, and advancing the role of youth and women in sustaining peace.
The delegation’s programme includes field visits to Peacebuilding Fund-supported projects in Bangui and the Bambara region.
RESIDENT COORDINATOR – EQUATORIAL GUINEA
The Secretary-General has appointed Antonio Aranibar of Bolivia as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Equatorial Guinea, with the host Government’s approval, starting on 16 March.
Mr. Aranibar brings more than 20 years’ experience in sustainable development, governance and peacebuilding to the role, with prior experience as the UN Special Adviser to the Office of the Resident Coordinator in Venezuela, Head of Office of the UN Verification Mission in Medellin, Colombia, as an economist at UNDP in Bolivia, and as the Director for Latin America and the Caribbean for an initiative focused on conflict prevention, dialogue promotion and institutional reform.
